Chapter 56

"Capricorn, please stop drawing this out, so. Tell me whatever it is that your bride had to tell you" exclaimed Gemini suddenly her voice losing its usual firmness to move through the air towards him making him turn his head to meet her gaze.

"Meggie is with child" said Capricorn the words seeming to stand in the air beating like a heartbeat as everything seemed to stand still in that moment.

Gemini had always known that this could happen, but she hadn't thought it would happen now. Capricorn would need an heir, someone to take his place when the kingdom they had secured was won, and yet, the idea of him dying without one had always drifted in the back of her mind. It wasn't something she wanted, but in case of the worst, she had always seen herself stepping into his place. Now though his bride was giving him an heir and now he would love that woman all the more. She could already see it happening. Gemini immediately saw the way the words made him smile. She wanted her heart to swell for him. She truly wanted the best for her brother, she meant it, but as she thought of her place in this future they were creating, she could see his little queen overshadowing her. Even as she knew this was what was right for him, she couldn't shake this feeling that had washed over her. She could feel the lies building in her veins.

"I'm happy for you…both of you…this was the news she couldn't tell you in written words?" said Gemini, despite her happiness the reality of the coming months was there.

There was a time when she had thought that she could wrestle him free of this love that had turned him so, but now, she had no such allusions. She saw this woman with him even now. She had captured his heart and while she knew that it was still deeply secured to their cause, she knew if he had to choose that his bride would always win. Gemini sometimes worried that he would be distracted by this woman's presence in his life, and now she feared it all the more. Now, he would be focused on this child, and she worried for the cause. He would be too distracted now and as if on cue, the second she thought it, he seemed to know.

"My heart is still solely with the cause we march towards, sister, more so then ever. I want to be there when Meggie births this child and watch it grow, I will not miss that. It makes our cause all the more important. I am writing the future for us all" exclaimed Capricorn suddenly finding he couldn't look at Gemini as he felt her doubt as it lay heavy in the air.

He found there was only one person he needed to look at in that moment. It was Meggie and as he opened his watch to see her face there staring up at him. Meggie and their child were the center of their cause and it was important that she saw that. She was not just some woman who was spoken of, but his center who had inspired his very place here. He knew she didn't understand that even as she tried to deny it.

"I know, brother, I understand…I just don't want you to hasten the process…if you do, I fear, it could ruin our chances" whispered Gemini, silence seemed to envelope them especially as his eyes focused on his brides picture all the longer.

As he focused on Meggie's face, Capricorn knew that Gemini was right, but so was he. He couldn't change anything just because of the news Meggie had given him. It had to all continue as it was planned and the second he looked at her again, Gemini saw as he realized that. If he rushed anything or changed it in any way then he might never get back to his wife and child at all. That was the last thing he wanted as he looked at Gemini. He was counting on her to get him home.

"I hear you, sister, I will not stray from our cause. Now, there is simply more to fight for" said Capricorn, they walked back to their horses then.

"Don't worry, brother, we will succeed in our cause. I will stand by you always and everything will go as we've planned" whispered Gemini as she climbed onto her horse again sharing a smile with him.

The truth was that Gemini would always believe in her brother. It had always been the two of them and nothing would ever change that. Not even the little bride he had let weaken him so. Yet, as she looked at him in that moment Gemini couldn't deny the one person she loved more then her brother, herself. She wouldn't go down if he did, she would protect herself. As she was thinking this she saw as he kept looking at her and meeting his gaze, she knew there was more to come. Capricorn couldn't bring himself to ask his mother if the potion might hurt their baby, he didn't even want to tell her at all, and looking at Gemini, he knew she would know. He just had to ask her even as he feared her answer.

"Gemini, other then our mother, you know more about the craft then I…" whispered Capricorn stopping suddenly as they rejoined the convoy.

After losing their first child, he feared what would happen to Meggie if this one was lost as well, especially if he wasn't there to keep her from falling apart. She had been, so despondent last time. He hadn't known how to help her, yet just as the thought ran through his mind he found himself returning to the present, and at his sister who he hoped would tell him what he wanted to hear.

"My queen is afraid the potion could have harmed our child…do you think that's possible?" said Capricorn his voice was steady, but his heart was not.

He couldn't move then as he awaited her answer. He stopped his horse turning to find she was right next to him looking at him with those all knowing eyes that had once belonged to his mother, but now she used to her own advantage.

"You know the answer to that, brother" said Gemini her voice softer then he remembered it ever being before as she reached to take his hand in a way that he remembered from when they were children.

"That potion was created by the most evil sorceress that has ever lived. Our mother has never created something that wouldn't hurt someone eventually. You should tell your bride never to take that potion, not again, not while carrying your child" whispered Gemini a haunted look falling over her eyes.

Capricorn knew he should have realized that himself. He had wanted to have faith in his mother, but he would not make that mistake again. He promised himself that as they continued on the trail.

"Just don't think about it anymore, brother, and tell your bride not to take anymore of that potion. She took it once, all should be fine as long as she doesn't take it again" whispered Gemini watching as he rode away to the front of the caravan with those words as the last thing he heard.

As she watched him go, Gemini felt as if they were approaching their future, and as she spotted the Adderheads castle in the distance, she knew it would be theirs soon. They would overthrow one of the most powerful men in the realm and though he believed himself their benefactor now, Gemini knew what his future held. She had seen it